Some worship services are just extraordinary. Everything comes together and the presence of the Holy Spirit is palpable. Our Re-Naming service was one of those services. People had been in the church from 4pm on Sunday. Much preparation had been done during the previous weeks. Everyone was working so hard up until the last minute – Catering crew and exhibition folk in the hall, musicians, AV and Welcome team in the church. Me running around like a headless chicken, trying to remember all the things that I was sure I had forgotten. Then finally there is that moment when you can do no more, when you stop…… and hand everything over to God. It was wonderful to welcome guests to the service from St James’s URC, Newcastle City Centre Churches Together, Northern Pride and the West End Refugee Service. MESMAC put our invitation to our service on their website, Northern Pride and Pride Radio and MESMAC all sent out our invitation on Twitter. I received emails from folk who couldn’t attend and sent their apologies. We are known and valued in the communities where we serve. People like our new name, they love the logo and they enjoy working with us. What was fantastic on Sunday was that they experienced who we are when we are doing the thing that feeds and motivates everything else that we do – our guests experienced our worship. Whether they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit or not, I do not know. What they did feel was our rich and vibrant passion for what we do, our warm and inclusive welcome and our joyful expression of our faith.
Many of you know that I am passionate about making a difference in the world. In my own personal faith, I believe that being a follower of Jesus requires us to try and make the world a better place. For me, it is a vital part of what it means to be a Christian. I am also clear that doing God’s work without spending any time being with God, listening to God and going deeper with God, takes me away from the faith I hold so dear. It is therefore a challenge sometimes to get the balance right between action and stillness. As Northern Lights MCC, we have a vision of bringing hope and light to those who need it. I am excited to see what opportunities open up for us, as we continue to live into this vision. However, whatever unfolds, it is vital that we always remember our primary function as a church – to gather and worship the One who called us into being and calls us to be the people of God. Our worship together each Sunday gives us a chance to celebrate all that God has blessed us with, and renews us for the week ahead, as hope-giving Northern Lights.
God bless
Cecilia
Many of you know that I am passionate about making a difference in the world. In my own personal faith, I believe that being a follower of Jesus requires us to try and make the world a better place. For me, it is a vital part of what it means to be a Christian. I am also clear that doing God’s work without spending any time being with God, listening to God and going deeper with God, takes me away from the faith I hold so dear. It is therefore a challenge sometimes to get the balance right between action and stillness. As Northern Lights MCC, we have a vision of bringing hope and light to those who need it. I am excited to see what opportunities open up for us, as we continue to live into this vision. However, whatever unfolds, it is vital that we always remember our primary function as a church – to gather and worship the One who called us into being and calls us to be the people of God. Our worship together each Sunday gives us a chance to celebrate all that God has blessed us with, and renews us for the week ahead, as hope-giving Northern Lights.
God bless
Cecilia
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